Believe It or Not: The World’s Smallest Church

Believe it or not….The ‘World’s Smallest Church’ is in Louisiana. The Madonna Chapel is in Bayou Goula and stands a few minutes away from the Nottoway Plantation.

In August, it always rains in Bayou Goula. Only there’s one day that the skies clear.

“Most of the time it’s raining and ugly, until the morning of the mass,” Mitzie Roppolo said.

Roppolo is talking about August 15th, which is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In celebration, a special mass is held only once a year on this day. It’s held at this special church known as ‘The World’s Smallest Church’.

Rooted in tradition, this church has a significant backstory.

“Mr. Tony Gullo in the early 1900’s had a sick child. He promised if his child got well then he would build a little chapel,” Roppolo said.

Roppolo now takes care of The Madonna Chapel.

“I had a calling. The Blessed Mother wanted me to do this. The mother of Jesus has done so much for me. The least I can do is keep the chapel going for her,” she said.

This tiny church gets plenty of attention. It was even featured in “Ripley’s Believe it or Not!”

“Somebody in Texas said that they had the smallest church in the world, but I thought everything was bigger in Texas,” Ropollo said.

The smallest church’s dimensions are 13 feet long, and 10 feet wide.

Anybody can come take a look inside and pray. A key to the chapel sits inside a box, right near the front door.

“We just love this little church. People should come and see it,” Catholic, Rose Marie Canella LeBlanc said.

Although small in stature, this tiny church is big on faith. It’s a reminder for these Catholics on dark, dreary days that there is light.

If you’d like to check it out for yourself it’s located on Highway 405—River Road in Bayou Goula.